Alternative Outreach & Data Collection Methods for Limited English Proficient Communities in the Twin Cities

Background:  As a contractor under the State Innovation Model (SIM) in Minnesota, the Bicultural Active Living Lifestyle (BALL) Initiative proposed to target the Limited English Proficient (LEP) Communities (specifically Hmong, Hispanic, Somalian, and Native American) of the Twin Cities to gather their perspective(s) and sentiment in regards to the Minnesota healthcare system. The BALL Initiative employed multimedia strategies to collect the outreach and survey data through planned LEP Community roundtable events as well as maintaining a presence at numerous bicultural events and fairs in and around the Twin Cities in 2016.

Program background:  The multimedia strategy of outreach and data collection proposed by the BALL Initiative was comprised of Videography for interviews, Photography for capturing 'whiteboard statements', and it also leveraged a web-based postcard platform (Storybird) to answer a series of questions which prompted the participants to share their personal and larger community views on the healthcare system in Minnesota.

Evaluation Methods and Results:  Sentiment analysis was performed on the 'whiteboard statement' photo series to qualify whether statements were positive or negative, with results arranged graphically as a deliverable. Each LEP Community video interview session received an overview video to highlight the views of each of the communities surveyed. The Storybird postcards were handled the same as the photos.

Conclusions:  The aim of the project was to introduce alternative methods to outreach and data collection while allowing the LEP Communities to have an amplified voice throught the dissemination of the final delivered materials. The BALL Initiative will continue to promote the produced stories throughout 2017.

Implications for research and/or practice:  n/a